Method of outputting from 3d printer having installed electrical component

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a 3D printer outputting method for mounting electrical components, the method comprising a step of generating a structure forming unit structures and a step of positioning component objects on the structure. The positions of the component objects can be changed by using a coordinate system. In mounting a component object ( 20 ) on a structure ( 10 ), a coordinate system ( 140 ) is used to check for colliding or overlapping portions of the component object and to determine whether the component object ( 20 ) is supported by unit structures ( 15 ), and the merits of 3D are used to rearrange the colliding or overlapping portions or portions, that are not supported, into other dimensions. In addition, in order to automatically insert an actual component object ( 20 ), the component object is picked up by a well-known pickup device ( 30 ), and the time point and position at which a second component object ( 20 ′) is to be inserted in the first component object ( 20 ) are predetermined.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a 3D printer outputting method formounting electrical components, and more particularly, to a 3D printeroutputting method for mounting electrical components, wherein anelectrical configuration or a work corresponding thereto is selected ina modeling for a general 3D printer and a direct simulation can therebybe performed, and by using such simulation, a product incorporating acircuit can be outputted by 3D printing.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, in the 3D printing technique, a technique in which a resultantobject having a shape (external shape) is outputted, or a resultantobject having moving portions in a shape is outputted has been applied.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

In related 3D printing techniques, when a 3D printing resultant objectis to be electrically operated (i.e., when circuits or the like areincluded and should be enabled to be electrically operated), thecircuits or the like should be mounted on the resultant object byseparately using a PCB or the like after 3D printing. Therefore, whenthe resultant object is an electronic device, the present 3D printingtechnique generates a satisfactory external shape, but has difficulty inpractically realizing the function.

Technical Solution

A 3D printer outputting method for mounting electrical componentsaccording to an embodiment of the present invention includes: generatinga structure forming unit structures; positioning component objects onthe structure, wherein the positions of the component objects arechangeable by using a coordinate system.

In an embodiment, when the component object is positioned on thestructure, a main controller may allow the component object to be movedor allow the structure to be modified such that the component object issupported by the structure when the component object is not supported bythe unit structures.

In an embodiment, when two or more component objects are positioned onthe structure, if a portion at which component objects partially overlapeach other is present, the main controller may adjust a position of thecomponent object such that there is no overlapping portion.

In an embodiment, when a component object is to be inserted from outsideduring 3D printing, the main controller may make the external componentobject to be picked up by a pickup apparatus and may previouslydetermine an inserting time point and an inserting position.

In an embodiment, when the external component is inserted by the pickupapparatus at pre-calculated time point and position, calculation may beperformed such that the external component does not fall down.

In an embodiment, the inserting time point and the inserting positionmay vary according to a shape of the external component object.

In an embodiment, after the external component object is inserted, atime point and a position, at which remaining printing is performed withrespect to other component objects which have already been formed, maybe calculated.

In an embodiment, the main controller may guide a time point at which acomponent object is directly inserted manually for a 3D printer withoutpickup function.

In an embodiment, the main controller may allow a cover to beautomatically generated for a replaceable component object while 3Dprinting is used.

In an embodiment, the main controller may allow a material differentfrom a second component object to be generated in the vicinity of thecomponent object to protect the component object. In an embodiment, inorder to generate the different material in the vicinity of the secondcomponent object, a protective region surrounding the second componentobject may be generated on a first component object according to aposition of the second component object, and one material to be used inthe protective region may be assigned according to a preset condition.

In an embodiment, when the second component is doubly surrounded, afirst region surrounding the second component object and a second regionsurrounding the first region may be provided, wherein the first andsecond regions may be assigned with materials different from each other.

In an embodiment, when a lamp is inserted into a first component object,a lamp position and a component type required therefor may beselectively disposed by using a well-known simulation program whileconsidering light radiated from the lamp, and a power supply module forsupplying a power source may be disposed according to types, numbers,and positions of specified lighting modules by using a well-knownsimulation program.

A 3D printer outputting method according to the present inventionincludes the step for generating a structure forming unit structures,wherein when the structure is generated, a space for component objectsand/or circuit lines and/or a power source which are disposed atpre-calculated positions is freed and only the remaining structures aregenerated. In an embodiment, the step for generating a cover forcovering the space to prevent damage to design and/or dusts may befurther included.

Advantageous Effects

A 3D printer outputting method for mounting electrical componentsaccording to the present invention has an effect in that data aboutelectrical components, data about electrical circuit disposition areinputted to a general 3D modeling data, and a main controller of a 3Dprinter calculates and controls the corresponding configuration to beautomatically positioned according to the previously input data toconfigure a product, and thus, the component objects are disposed toprevent collision between the component objects.

In addition, the present invention has an effect in that in mountingcomponent objects on a structure, collision portions or overlappingportions of component objects are identified by using a coordinatesystem, and whether the component objects are supported by unitstructures is determined, and thus the collision or overlapping portionsor unsupported portions are re-arranged at other positions by using themerits of 3D.

In addition, the present invention has an effect in that an actualcomponent object is picked up by a well-known pickup apparatus so as tobe automatically inserted, and for a 3D printer without a pickupfunction, a time point at which component objects can be directlyinserted manually is provided to notify the time point.

In addition, the present invention has an effect in that materialsdifferent from those of the outer shapes of component objects areenabled to be applied inside and outside the component objects.

In addition, the present invention has an effect in that when a lightingor the like is realized by incorporating a lamp such as LED in anelectrical configuration, the uniformity of light amount according tothe design of a first component object and the application of aoptimized light amount radiated when the lamp is disposed in the firstcomponent object can be designed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a state in which a component object is insertedin a structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a state in which a component object is insertedand supported in a structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a state in which a component object is insertedand supported in a structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a state in which two component objects areinserted and overlap with each other in a structure according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a state in which two component objects areinserted and separated from each other in a structure according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration view of a state in which a component object isinserted by a pickup apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a protective region forprotecting external portions after inserting a second component objectin a first component object according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a protective region forprotecting external portions after inserting a second component objectin a first component object according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an external view of a component object in which a lamp ismounted according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a 3D printer outputting system formounting electrical components according to the present invention.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Description will be presented with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 illustrates a first component object 20. A second componentobject 20′ is to be inserted in the component object 20, and when aprocess of surrounding the second component object 20′ with apredetermined material is needed after the second component object 20′is inserted, a protective region (see FIG. 8) surrounding the secondcomponent object 20′ may be generated according to the position of thesecond component object 20′.

According to preset conditions, one material may be assigned on theprotective region and printed according to the assigned material.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the second component object 20′ is doublysurrounded, a first region surrounding the second component object 20′and a second region surrounding the first region are provided, and thefirst and second regions may be assigned with materials different fromeach other. For example, the first region may be assigned with a rigidmaterial, and the second region may be assigned with a flexiblematerial.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 10, when a lighting is realized byincorporating a lamp such as LED through an electrical circuitconfiguration, in order to apply the light amount uniformity accordingto the design of the first component object and the optimized amount ofradiated light when lamps are disposed in the first component object 20,functions of automatically checking the light amount and arranging thelamps may be provided.

For example, considering a lighting function, when a well-knownsimulation program is used to incorporate the lamps into the firstcomponent object 20, it is necessary to calculate the number of outputlamps required, where the lamps should be located for excellentradiation, what components are needed, and where the optimal positionis. Considering light radiated at this time, an optimal positiondisposition and required kinds of components may be selected anddisposed.

The well-known light amount simulation program and a main controller 100cooperate with each other such that the first component object 20 isselected; a light amount radiated from the lamps for each region of thefirst component object 20 from the light amount simulation program isinputted; and at least any one of the thickness, material of the firstcomponent object 20 and the type, number, or position of lightingmodules disposed inside is allowed to be set so that a specific amountof light is radiated for each region of the first component object 20.According to the type, number and position of the lighting modulesspecified as such, a power supply module for supplying power isdisposed.

According to the above-described configuration, an embodiment of 3Dprinter outputting method for mounting electrical component according tothe present invention will be described as follows.

Data about electrical component, data about electrical circuitdisposition, and the like are inputted to a general 3D modeling data110.

A main controller 100 of a 3D printer calculates and controls thecorresponding configuration to be automatically positioned according topreviously input data to thereby configure a product.

For example, a lattice internal structure 10 is formed to prevent thecollisions between the positions of LED, battery, and micro-computer.Coordinate values are determined by a coordinate generating unit (acoordinate system 140) with the center point of a unit structure 15 ofthe structure 10 as a reference point.

When a component object 20 is mounted on the structure 10, the collidingor overlapping portion of the component object is identified by usingthe coordinate generating unit 140, and whether the component object 20is supported by the unit structure 15 is determined, and the collidingor overlapping portions or unsupported portions are rearranged at otherdimensions using merits of three-dimension.

In addition, in order to automatically insert the actual componentobject 20, the component object is picked up by a well-known pickupdevice 30, and the point in time and the position at which a secondcomponent object 20′ is inserted in the first component object 20 arepredetermined.

For a 3D printer without a pickup function, the time point at which thecomponent object 20′ can be directly inserted manually is provided tonotify the time point, and a cover is automatically generated forreplaceable component objects such as battery or LED, thereby preventingthe designed external shape from being damaged.

In order to protect the component object, a material different from thatof the external shape of the component object is applied to the insideand outside of the component object.

In the above configuration, when a lamp such as LED is incorporated torealize a lighting lamp, uniformity of light amount according to thedesign of the first component object 20 and the application of optimizedlight amount radiated when the lamp is disposed in the first componentobject 20 are designed.

FIG. 11 illustrates a 3D printer output system for mounting electricalcomponents.

When 3D modeling data 110 is read and is converted into a format for 3Dprinters (tool path format such as G-code), if a prepared specifiedconfiguration is selected in 3D modeling to realize a electricalconfiguration or functions corresponding thereto, the configuration isautomatically positioned and configures a product according to the inputdata inputted by a main controller of a 3D printer, and 3D printing isperformed through an output unit part 130.

For example, when an LED element is configured from among electricalconfigurations and an on/off function is needed in a specific condition,an LED, a battery, and a micro-computer and a circuit which controls theLED and the battery are required. To this end, the positions of the LED,battery, and the micro-computer should be set, and a circuit forconnecting these should be configured.

At this time, the positions and circuit are automatically configured bythe calculation of the main controller 100 which are inputted and presetfrom the 3D modeling data 110, and thus, a user may easily realize theelectrical configuration. Here, an interface (UX-based GUI environment,etc.) is provided such that the positions of the LED and the insertingposition of the battery may be changed by the user.

FIG. 1 illustrates a lattice internal structure 10 is formed to disposethe LED, the battery, and the micro-computer (hereinafter, referred toas “component objects”) without collision between the positions thecomponent objects.

In this document, the word “component objects” do not simply mean onlythe circuit but may mean objects including all of circuits required forelectrical operations and/or electrical lines (wires) and/or powersource (battery), etc.

The structure 10 is formed of a plurality of unit structures 15 having apredetermined shape.

The unit structure 15 of FIG. 1 has a hexagonal outer periphery and acircular inner diameter. Coordinate values are determined by acoordinate generating unit 140 with the center point of the unitstructure 15 as a reference point. Thus, according to the unit structureof the structure, various types of coordinates may be generated.

As in the above cases, a resultant object may be printed while new unitstructures are generated through 3D printing, and on the other hand, maybe formed such that the LED, the battery, and component objects and acircuit line connecting these are disposed on the resultant object inwhich shapes have been already printed through 3D printing.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a method will be described inwhich collision portions of component objects are identified by using acoordinate generation unit (coordinate system 140) and the collisionportions are re-arranged in other dimensions by using merits of 3D.

In forming a structure 10, the structure 10 formed in a lattice shape ismost desirable, and since having the lattice shape, the structure 10 hasvacant spaces inside unit structures 15. A component object 20 ispositioned on a structure 10. However, as illustrated in FIG. 2, sincethere is a case in which the component object 20 can not be supported bya unit structure 15 because the component object 20 is smaller than theunit structure 15, a main controller 100 should determine whether thecomponent object 20 is supported by the unit structure 15. In thedetermination method, a coordinate value is calculated. As a result ofdetermination, when the component object 20 is not supported by the unitstructure 15, the component object 20 is moved or the structure 10 is tobe modified so as to be supported by the structure 10. In FIG. 4, unitstructures 15 of a structure 10 are modified to be formed in variousshapes, and one of the unit structures 15 is configured to support acomponent object 20.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a method will be described in whichwhen portions at which component objects 20 overlap in a structure 10are inspected by using a coordinate generation unit 140, and when thereis an overlapping portion, the portion is adjusted so as not to overlap.

Referring to FIG. 5, two component objects 20 and 20′ partially overlapeach other. Accordingly, the positions of the component objects 20 and20′ are adjusted with each other, the overlapping portion is removed asillustrated in FIG. 6.

The positions of the component object 20 is adjusted by using thecoordinate generation unit 140 and then the component object 20 ispositioned at a stable position.

When an actual 3D printer 1 outputs on the simulation formed as such, apickup function of automatically inserting an actual component object 20will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

In 3D modeling, when there is a case in which a first component object20 and a second component object 20′ are coupled, that is, when there isa case in which during the 3D printing of the first component object 20,the second component object 20′ should be coupled from the outside, thesecond component object 20′ should be picked up by a well-known pickupapparatus 30, and the time point and position for inserting the secondcomponent object 20′ into the first component object 20 should bepreviously determined.

Next, during the 3D printing of the first component object 20, thesecond component object 20′ is to be inserted by the pickup apparatus 30at the pre-calculated time point and position. When the second componentobject 20′ is inserted by the pickup apparatus 30 at the pre-calculatedtime point and position, it is important to make the second componentobject 20′ not to deviate from a region.

In addition, since the time point and position of insertion varyaccording the shape of the second component object 20′, this should alsobe considered in calculation. Furthermore, after the second componentobject 20′ is inserted, the time point and position of remainingprinting with respect to the first component object 20 should beconsidered.

In order to reliably attach the above component object (or a circuitsuch as micro-computer) to an existing printed resultant object when thecomponent object is inserted, an adhesive with a certain shape may beapplied on the surface of the component object or the surface of theresultant object, and when a plurality of circuits are inserted, whethereach circuit is electrically well connected may also be tested.

The 3D printing data in which the time point and position of pickup arecalculated is outputted by an actual 3D printer 1.

For a 3D printer without a pickup function, the time point at which thecomponent object 20′ can be directly inserted manually is provided tonotify the time point, and a cover is automatically generated forreplaceable component objects such as battery or LED, thereby preventingthe designed external shape from being damaged. At this time, theautomatically generated cover is to be outputted in a detachable shapetogether or separately in other region when 3D printing is outputted.

For example, when a 3D resultant object having an LED lighting is formedby 3D printing, the LED lighting, a power source, switches andelectrical lines (wires) for connecting the power source and thelighting should be inserted into the 3D resultant object.

Accordingly, when printing with a 3D printer cooperating with a pickupapparatus, if a position which is pre-calculated by a coordinategeneration unit, and at which component objects or the like (includingelectrical lines (wires) and/or a power source) should be inserted isreached during printing, the pickup apparatus is operated to pickup theobjects (an LED lighting, wires, a power source or the like) to beinserted in respective positions and position the objects at thecorresponding positions, and a resultant object is thereby completed.(In this case, adhesives or the like may be used.)

Meanwhile, in case of a 3D printer which do not cooperate with a pickupapparatus, if a position which is pre-calculated by a coordinategeneration unit, and at which component objects or the like should beinserted is reached during printing, unlike the above case, the size,volume, and position of respective components (which are calculated bythe main controller or coordinate generation unit through receiving 3Dprinting data) are calculated, and the remaining portions except forspaces in which the components are inserted, are formed by 3D printing,and required components are inserted later in the space by a user andmay be used.

At this time, since in the case as described above, the printedresultant object has a space which remains vacant and in which componentobjects or the like are inserted, the printed resultant object does nothave an originally intended 3D shape and is weak against dust or othershocks. Accordingly, a cover for blocking dusts or the like whilemaintaining the original designed shape may be produced through theabove-described method.

Meanwhile, for the protection of the objects and safety, various outputmaterials are formed inside or outside to match usages and therebyimproving the efficiency.

There are provided functions for protecting the component objects. Bythe functions, different flexible materials are formed between outershapes of component objects and target output objects to protect theinternal objects; and regions such as outer shapes of a sharp portionrequiring safety or regions requiring damage prevention, waterproofness,electromagnetic wave blockage, or the like are automatically replacedwith an output material according with the requirements.

For example, when a toy product having an electrical function is to beformed, the product should have an inner circuit, the outer appearanceshould not be sharp, and the product should not have problems of beinginputted into a mouth or being wet, and should not be damaged when beingthrown. To this end, the inside of the product brought into contact withcomponent objects is formed with silicone, the outsides of the componentobjects are formed with a rigid plastic material which retains anexternal shape, and sharp portions are formed with flexible silicone tohave an external shape and safety. In addition, when an elephant isdesigned, only nose portion can be replaced with silicone and thus thefunctionality of design is improved.

In a conventional 3D printer in which the above functions can not berealized, the position at which an electrical circuit (micro-computer orthe like) is to be disposed is calculated in advance through theconnection to a coordinate generating unit (coordinate system 140), and3D printing may be performed considering this.

Features described herein are merely one embodiment for implementing a3D printer outputting method for mounting electrical componentsaccording to the present invention. The present invention is not limitedto the present embodiments but as claimed in the scope of the claimsbelow, the technical spirit of the present invention would be within therange such that any one skilled in the art belonging to the presentinvention could make various changes and modifications could be madewithin the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Since the present invention relates to a 3D printer outputting methodfor mounting electrical components and to a technique for using 3Dprinters and has thus industrial applicability.

1. A 3D printer outputting method for mounting electrical componentscomprising: generating a structure forming unit structures; andpositioning component objects on the structure, wherein the positions ofthe component objects are changeable by using a coordinate system. 2.The 3D printer outputting method of claim 1, wherein when the componentobjects are positioned on the structure, a main controller allows thecomponent objects to be moved or allows the structure to be modifiedsuch that the component objects are supported by the structure when thecomponent objects are not supported by the unit structures.
 3. The 3Dprinter outputting method of claim 1, wherein when two or more of thecomponent objects are positioned on the structure, if a portion at whichthe two or more of the component objects partially overlap each other ispresent, the main controller adjusts positions of the two or more of thecomponent objects such that there is no overlapping portion.
 4. The 3Dprinter outputting method of claim 1, wherein when one of the componentobjects is to be inserted from outside during 3D printing to form anexternal component object, the main controller makes the externalcomponent object to be picked up by a pickup apparatus and previouslydetermines an inserting time point and an inserting position.
 5. The 3Dprinter outputting method of claim 4, wherein when the externalcomponent object is inserted by the pickup apparatus at pre-calculatedtime point and position, calculation is performed such that the externalcomponent object does not fall down.
 6. The 3D printer outputting methodof claim 4, wherein the inserting time point and the inserting positionvary according to a shape of the external component object.
 7. The 3Dprinter outputting method of claim 4, wherein after the externalcomponent object is inserted, a time point and a position, at whichremaining printing is performed with respect to other component objectswhich have already been formed, are calculated.
 8. The 3D printeroutputting method of claim 1, wherein the main controller guides a timepoint at which at least one of the component objects is directlyinserted manually for a 3D printer without pickup function.
 9. The 3Dprinter outputting method of claim 1, wherein the main controller allowsa cover to be automatically generated for a replaceable component objectwhile 3D printing is used.
 10. The 3D printer outputting method of claim1, wherein the main controller allows a material different from a secondone of the component objects to be generated in the vicinity of a firstone of the component objects to protect the first one of the componentobjects.
 11. The 3D printer outputting method of claim 10, wherein inorder to generate the different material in the vicinity of the secondone of the component objects, a protective region surrounding the secondone of the component objects is generated on the first one of thecomponent objects according to a position of the second one of thecomponent objects, and one material to be used in the protective regionis assigned according to a preset condition.
 12. The 3D printeroutputting method of claim 10, wherein when the second one of thecomponent objects is doubly surrounded, a first region surrounding thesecond one of the component objects and a second region surrounding thefirst region are provided, wherein the first region and the secondregions are assigned with materials different from each other.
 13. The3D printer outputting method of claim 1, wherein when a lamp is insertedinto a first one of the component objects, a lamp position and acomponent type required therefor are selectively disposed by using awell-known simulation program while considering light radiated from thelamp, and a power supply module for supplying a power source is disposedaccording to types, numbers, and positions of specified lighting modulesby using a well-known simulation program.
 14. A 3D printer outputtingmethod for mounting electrical components comprising the step forgenerating a structure forming unit structures, wherein when thestructure is generated, a space for component objects and/or circuitlines and/or a power source which are disposed at pre-calculatedpositions is freed and only the remaining structures are generated. 15.The 3D printer outputting method of claim 14, further comprising thestep for generating a cover for covering the space to prevent damage todesign and/or dusts.